Folding and interleaving machine



Sept. 7, 1926. 1,599,375

v C. W. SLEEPER FOLDING AND INTERLEAVING MACHiNE Filed 13, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 7, 1926.

V C. W. SLEEPER FOLDING AND INTERLEAVING MACHINE 34% H M 5 m @w e H v.

Sept. 7 1926.

c. w. SLEEPER FOLDI-NG AND INTERLEAVING MACHINE Filed m. 15,, 1922 "'YfSheeis-Sheet s Sept. 7 1926;

Q. w. SLEEPER I FOLDING AND INTERLEAVING MACHINE I C. W. SLEEPER FOLDING AND INTERLEAVING- MACIiINE Filed Jan. 13, 1922 v Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 7

C. w. SLEEPER.

FOLDING AND INTERLEAViNG mcamn:

'Filed Jan. 13, 1922 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 7 1926.

c. w. SLEEPER FOLDING AND INTERLEAVING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13;

7' SXieets-Sheet '7 Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT o CHARLES w. SLEEPER, or LANcAsrEa, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AssIoNoE, r0 BROWN COMPANY, OF BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION 01* MAINE.

roLnINcANn INTERLEAVING mAcmNE Application filed January 13, 1922. Serial No. 529,081.

This invention relates to foldingand infierleaving machines more particularly of that type which are designed to handle rolls of sheet material such as paper toweling, cut the material into lengths for individual towels, overlap the adjacent ends, and fold in zigzag formation in interleaved relation. The folded towels may then be placed in stacked relation in a dispensing box having a slot through its base through which the lower end of the lowest towel projects. By grasping and pulling this end the lowest towel may be removed from the'box, bringing therewith the lowest end of the succeeding towel into position where it may be grasped.

Certain features of this invention relate to the construction of the Various sheet-ham dling mechanisms by which the entire operation of cutting, interleaving, and folding are performed by rotating elements so that smooth and rapid operation is possible.

Further this invention provides simple means by which the relative timing of the various mechanisms may be adjusted.

Further objects and advantageous details and combinations of parts will appear from a more complete description of an embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away andin section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 2.-

Figure 5 is a. section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of ure 2.

Figure 7 is a section ure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail.

Figure 9 'is an enlarged longitudinal section through the left hand end portion of the machine. I i r Figure lOis a similar section through an intermediate portion.

Figure 11 is asimilar section through the right hand portion.

Figures 12 and 13 are sections through the lapping rolls in different positions from those shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Fig-

on line7--7 of Fig- Figure 14 is'a perspective view showing After having been cut into lengths'the 110 the manner in' which a pair of successive towels are overlapped andfold'ed.

Referring to these figures, atl' is indicated a pair of side frame members 'oined at their ends b cross members 2 an intermediate thereo by similar crossmembers 3. The sheet. handling mechanisms are mounted adjacent theupper portion of the side frames direction by means of 'a gear 10 carried on an intermediate shaft 11 and meshing on opposite sides with gears 110 and 12 fixed to rotate with the rolls 6 and 9. The gears 110 and 12 mesh with corresponding gears 13 and 14 carried by the upper rolls 5 and 8.

Besides serving to feed the 'work substantially horizontally the rolls 8 and 9 are provided of material into lengths which means, as shown, comprisesa knife 15 projecting from the peripheryof the roll 9 and engaging. within a slot 16 in the roll 8. For the purpose of supporting the strip as it passes from one set of feed rolls to the next, a pair of series of spaced horizontal supporting bars, the bars of the upper series being indicated by 17 and the bars of the lower series by 18, are. provided. These bars extend lengthwise of the ath of travel of the sheet strip material an project within peripheral slots, as shown at 119. in the various feed rolls. By this means the strip may pass between the two series of bars while the feed rolls project therebetween to engage it. These bars may supported intermediate the feed rolls by means of transverse bars 19 and 20 having supports 21 extending therefrom to which the bars may be made fast by screws 22 extending through slots in the supports. These transverse bars may be supported by end slide blocks 23 vertlcally adjustable in the side frame members I in asimi'lar manner to the journal boxes .for the feed rolls.

with mean for cutting the strip through strips pass to a third series of feed rolls and 26 which are driven in unison with the feed rolls 8 and 9 by means of a gear 27 fixed. to an intermediate shaft 28 meshing on one side with the gear 12 and on'the other side with a gear 29 fixed to rotate with the roll 26. The rolls 25 and 26 are driven in unison with each other by intermeshing gears thereon, the gear on roll 25 being shown at 30 in Figure 1 meshing with a similar gear beneath it on roll 26. The roll 25 is fixedto a shaft 31 which extends the forward side frame member 1 and carries thereon tight and loose belt pulleys 32 and 33, this shaft being the main drive shaft of the machine. The rolls 25 and 26 are of slightly greater diameter than the rolls 5 and 6 so that the sheet material fed therebetween is held under suflicient tension so that the knife 15 cuts the material instead ofmerely indenting it. The rolls 25 and 26 are designed to cause the adjacent ends of succeeding lengths of material to overlap.

For this purpose the roll 25 is provided with a recess 35 cooperating with a similar recess 36 of the roll 26, this construction providing one position of the rolls in which they do not engage the sheet material to feed it. In order that overlapping of the sheets may be assured, one of the sheets S, herein shown as the rear sheet of a pair (Figures 9, 12, and

13), is raised upwardly at its forward end so as to pass over the rear end of the forward sheets S. For this purpose anangleshaped member 37 is seated in the recess 36,

one leg of this angle at 38 projecting be-- yond the periphery of the roll 26 and being adapted to engage the forward end of the rear sheet and project it within the recess 35. v The-position of the'r'ell just before this engagment takes place is shown in Figure 9.

In Figure 12 is shown the positions of the rolls when the forward end of the rear length S is engaged while the rear end of the forward lengths is freed from feeding engagement with the rolls, while in Figure 13 the forward end of the rear sheet S is raisedwithin the recess 25 over the rear end In order that overlapping maybe effected it is necessary that the rear sheet be fed faster than the forward sheet. Means are therefore'provided for slowing down the feed of the sheets after they pass the rolls 25 and 26. This means consists of feed rolls 40, and 41 whichfare driven in unison with the rolls 25 and 26 by means of a gear 42 on an inter- 'mediate shaft 43, which meshes on one side with a gear 44 fixed to roll shaft 260. on which roll 26 is 'mounted and'also meshes with a gear 45 of larger diameter than the gear 44 which is fixed to a shaft 46 carrying I the roll'41. The ratio of the diameters of gears 40 and 45 is preferably about 4 to 5 so that the sheets as they pass between the periphery with gear"teeth rolls 40 and 41 are fed slower than the following sheets to an extent suflicient to furnish the desired overlap.

As at certain times, .as before described, the sheet material is free from the feed rolls 25 and 26, means for maintaining the sheet flat so as to maintain the proper relationship between the various lengths as presented to the overlapping'feed rolls 25 and 26 is desirable. For this purpose between the cutting and overlapping rolls is provided a sup- In order to-hold the material down against this support means comprising an air jet 1s herein shown, this jet being located above the members 51 and pointing downwardly and'forwardly toward the overlapping rolls as shown at 52.

The feed rolls 40 and 41, above mentioned, not only serve to feed the sheets at a slower rate than the previous feed rolls, but they are also employed to crease the material alternately in opposite directions preparatory to the folding operation. For this purpose each roll 40 and 41 is provided with alternate notches 6O and'projecting folding edges 61 arranged circumferentially about its periphery,

passes between these rolls, creases are formed laterally thereof alternately in opposite directions. From these rolls the material is presented to the folding mechanisms. 1

Referring to Figures 1, 3, 5, and 11, upstanding from the opposite side members 1 is a pair of bearing brackets 65 which have fixed therein a pair of sleeves 66,"the inner end of each sleeve being formed on its to form a fixed gear 67. Projecting through and journaled in these sleeves is a drive shaft 68. which is prevented from axial motion relative thereto by means of collars 69. Outwardl of the forward sleeve 66 a sprocket wheel 0 is fixed to the shaft 6 8-by which it may be the notches 60 of one roll mating the edges 61 of the other. As the sheet rotated. Keyed to the shaft68 between the sleeves are a pair of disks 71 in which are journaled a circular series of shafts 72 arranged about the drive shaft 68 as a center.

These shafts 72 are designed to carry fold ings bars, each bar comprising a series of tained in a vertical position in order to 74 the larger end of the block ing bars in vertical properly engage and fold the sheet material. or this purpose the outer end of each shaft 72 has fixed thereto a ear, 77, of the same size as .the gear 67,

wiich meshes with a inion 78 carried by a stub shaft 79 in each rotation.

- therefrom The blocks 73 are designed to project be-' tween a series of bars which are fixed at their rear ends in a transverse bar 86 and define the upper face of a chute in which the sheet material is stacked on edge in folded condition. I The bars 85 at their forward ends are passed between a transverse bars 87 and' 88 see Figure 8), the adjacent ends. of which are, brought to gether and made ,fast to the upper end of plug 89 at opposite sides of the machine y means of studs 90 projecting upwardly over which the bars 87 and 88 are assed and held in position by nuts 91. ach plug 89 is threaded in a support 92 extending inwardly from a side frame member 1 and at its lower end is provided with a perforation '93 for engagement with a tool'by which the plug may be turned to adjust it vertically in the support. By this means the outer ends of the bars 85 are vertically adjustable to determine the resistance offered to the assage of the folded sheets so that the fol ed portions may be pressed up into close engagement with each other, t-h1s adjustment being provided for the purpose of suiting the resistance to the particular material being handled.

The lower wall of the chute for the folded materialv is formed by means of spaced bars 95 positioned below the ends of the longitudinal guide and supporting bars 18, the rear portions of these bars 95 being bent upwardly to form a hump 96 closely adjacent the ends'of the bars 18. 'Mounted to project upwardly between the bars 95 are 'a series of folding bars or elements 100, each element having a vertically upwardly ex-' tending blade 101 adapted to pass between blades 74 of the upper fold in mechanism. The folding elements 0% 'the lower mechanism are mounted on shafts 102 jourand which are keyed to a drive shaft 104 naled indisks-103 similar to the disks 71 extending throu h and journaled in sleeves 105 fixed in bearing brackets105" carried b the side frame members 1. The drive shaft 104 has a sprocket wheel 106 on one end by which itmay be driven,

jecting upwardly by means of gears 107 air of spaced fixed to the shaft 260 of 131 which meshes with a I and the folding ele-' Y ments are maintained with their blades pro- ,fixed to each shaft 102 and meshing through idlers 108 with a fixed gear 109 carried by each sleeve 105 being mounted in the same manner as the blocks 73 of the upper foldin mechanism.

he sheet material passes from the areas" ing rolls, as shown in Figure 11, Within the .chute formed by the bars 85 and 95 and is .In order that the creasing and foldingoperation shall be properly related,- provision is made in this invention for adjusting the-relative timing of the creasing rolls and the folding mechanism and the relative timing of the folding mechanisms. For this purpose driving -means for the folding mechanisms has been provided as follows.

Journaled through the side frame 1 is a shaft (see Figures 2 and 3) this shaft having fixed at its outer end a sprocket wheel 121 over which passes a sprocket chain 122 engaging an idler sprocket Wheel.

123 and a sprocket wheel 70 of the upper drive shaft 68: Journaled on this. shaft 120 is a yoke 125 having rearwardly extending arms 126 between which is journaled a shaft 127. This shaft carries a sprocket wheel 128 over which passes a sprocket chain 129 leading over a sprocket wheel 130 the overlapping roll 26. The shaft 127 also carries a gear gear 132 fixed to the shaft 120 inwardly of the frame member 1. The yoke 125 may be rocked about the shaft 120 as a center, to change the relative meshing relation between the gears 131,and 132, by means of a rod 133 threaded through a block 134 pivoted by means of a pin 135 to an ear 136 upstanding from'the yoke member 125. The rod 133. is journaled at 137 to a portion of the frame member 1 and carries an actuating hand wheel 138 by member 141 which has journaled therein a" shaft 142 having fixed at one end a gear 143 meshing with the gear'132, and attheother end a sprocket wheel 144 overwhich passes a chain 145 leading past an idler.

sprocket 146 and over the sprocket wheel 106 on the lower drive shaft 104. This yoke 141 may be swung about shaft 120 as a center by means ofa rod 148 threaded at the frame member 1 and carries outwardly therefrom a hand wheel 154 by whlch it may be turned. By turning the hand wheels 138 and 154 the relative timingbetween the folding andfeed rolls, including the creasing rolls and the folding mechanisms, as

well as the timing between the upper and lower foldingmechanism, may be adjusted as desired.

After being folded the towels pass to the upper courses of conveyor belts indicated at 160 in Figures 2 and 11, by which the folded towels are led away from. the machine. As

.- folded towels.

the towels leave the chute and pass to the conveyor belts they are alined in stacked formation by means of a layboy. As shown inFigures 6 and 11, this layboy. comprises a pair of oppositely disposed bars 165 between which the stack of folded towels passes. These bars are supported at their forward ends by the upper ends of a pair of levers 166 and 167 (see Figure 6). The l'ever'166 is pivoted to the end frame of the machine at 168 and has an arm 169 pro'ecting below the pivot. The lever 16 is formed as a bell crank being fu'lcrumed on a pin 170 and substantially horizontally toward the back of the machine. These levers are positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor belts 160 and the arm 169 of one lever is connected to the lever 167 above its pivot 170 by means of a rod 172 preferably having a turn-buckle 173 intermediate its ends for adjusting the length thereof. By this connection it is evident that by exerting downward pressureon the free end of the arm 171 the bars 165 may be swung outwardly or separated, while raising the arm 171 causes these bars to approach each other to even up the stack of For. the purpose of impartin this motion to the bars 165 the upper end of arm 171 has pivoted thereto a depending link I74 preferably having a turnbuckle 17 5 intermediate its ends by which its effective length may be adjusted. The lower end of the link 174 is pivoted at 176 to the outer end of a lever 17 7 pivoted at 178 intermediate its ends (see Figures 2 and 11) to a portion of the machine frame. The innerend of this lever terminates in a cam follower portion 179 which bears on 'an edge cam 180, which is herein shown as formed square. .By rotation. 180 it is evident that the lever 177 willbe rocked in one direction to effect the closing together of the bars 165, the opening thereof being effected by the weight of the various parts which normally holds the bars 165 -separated. Cam 180 is fixed to a shaft 181 journaled in a bracket 182 depending from has an arm. 171 extending of this camthe under side of the top frame bar. This I shaft carries a sprocket wheel 183 and is connected'by a chain 184 to a sprocket wheel 185 fixed to the forward end of the drive shaft 104. Consequently during operation of the machine, the bars 165 arealternately opened and closed against the sides of the stack of folded towels. The shaft 181 is also employed to drive the conveyors, this being effected by means of a pinion 186 thereon meshing with a gear 187 fixed toa shaft 188, also journaled in the bracket 182,

and carrying on its outer end a pinion 189. This pinion meshes with a gear 190 carried by the conveyor shaft 191 to which is attaohed pulleys 192 over which the conveyor belts pass.

It is also desirable that the number of towels inthe stack be counted and an indication m'ade thereon when a required number has been folded together. For this purpose an indenting or marking means is pro vided. As shown in Figures 1, 6, and 7 the indenting or marking member comprises a block 195 having a sharpened lower edge 196. This block is normally held upwardly above the upper edges of the stack of folded towels, being carried on an arm 197, ivoted at 198, in a slot in a weight 199 w ich is fixed to theouter endof an arm 200 fulcrumed at 201 on a plate 202 made fast by a bolt 203 to the upper edge of the side frame. The plate 202 extends inwardly from this side frame and carries on its extremity a cushion member 204 against which the inner end of the arm 200 nor- As shown the pivot 198 of the mallyrests. arm 197 is so placed as to permit-a downward swinging motion of the marker block 195, This block is normally .held with the arm 197 substantially horizontal and out of engagement with the towels by means of a spring- 205 extending between the upper inner corner of the weight 199 to the arm 197. Should the arm 200, however, be raised and then allowed to fall suddenly the inertia of the marker member 195 is sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 205 momentarily so that'the marker member continues to move -,'after the arm 200 is stopped by the cushion 204, and the sharpened portion 196 strikes the upper edge of the stack and indents the edge of the towel.

As soon as the inertia of the marking block 195 has been expended, the spring 205 withdraws it substantially to the position has fixed thereon a jacent one end within the framev portion of the" machine a snail cam 210. This cam has one or more sudden 7 drop; portions as shown at 211, the number lSO- 'Inents, these move comparatively slowly two at: the creases,

depending on the number of towels desired between the marked portions, herein shown two being employed. Riding on this cam is a plunger bar 212 vertically 'reciprocable through a guide sleeve 213 and engaging the arm 200 at its upper end. In the position shown in Figure 7 the plunger bar has dropped to mark the stack oft'owels". By continued rotation 'of the shaft 191, the plunger is lifted, thus elevating the marker block 195, but when the succeeding dropping portion 210 is reached the plunger is allowed to fall thus permitting the weight 199 to bring down, the marker block as above described to indent the folded edge of a towel. I

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident that a machine has been provided in which the cutting, creasing, and folding is effected by rotary members so that a rapid and easy action of the machine is possible and that other sheet material than paper toweling may be interleaved and foldedjf desired. While the layboy involves reciprocating elewith relation to the other mechanisms and are comparatively light in weight so that they do not impart materialjar or vibration to the machine. It should be evident also that many changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I'claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a strip, means for cutting said strip into len ths, means for over- I, lapping adjacent en s of said lengths,

means for creasing said lengths while overlapped, and means for folding said lengths at the. creases.

2. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a'strip, means for cutting said stripinto len ths, means for overlapping adjacent en s of said lengths, means for creasing said lengths while overlapped, and means for folding said lengths tary.

3. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a strip, means for cutting said strip into lengths,.rotary means for overlagpmg adjacent ends of said lengths, an rotary means for 'foldingsaid -4. In a machine of the class described, airs of spaced feed rolls for feeding lengt s of sheet material, means for driving the second pair of.rolls at a lower peripheral speed than the first pair, the rolls of said first pair having mating recesses to release the rear end of each length while feeding the forward end of the following length, and means carried by said first pair all of said means being ro-- of rolls for deflecting the forward end of the following length to override the rear end of the previous length whereby the following length is fed into overlapping relation to the previous length.

5. In a machine of the class described, two pairs of spaced feed rolls for feeding lengths of sheet material, means for driving the second pair of rolls at a lower peripheral speed than the first pair, the rolls of said first pair having mating recesses to release the rear end of each length while feeding the forward end of the following length, and means carried by said first pair of rolls for deflecting the forward end of the following length to over-ride the rear end of the previous length whereby the following length is fed into overlapping relation to the previous length, one of said first pair of rolls having a projection entering the recess of the mating roll and engaging and deflecting the forward end of the following length from the plane of the preceding length, whereby on subsequent feeding, the forward end of the following length is lapped over the rear end of the preceding length.

6. In a machine of the class described, sheet-creasingmechanism, a pair of'cooperating mechanisms for folding the' creased sheet, a gear, a pair of arms pivoted concentrically with said gear, a gear 'on each arm meshing with said first mentioned gear, means ,for driving one of said mechanisms and one of said gears, means for driving the others of said mechanisms from said other gears, and means for independently adjusting said arms angularly about their pivots to adjust the relative timing of said mechanisms.

7. A: folding mechanism comprising a pair of rotary series of folding bars, the bars of one series being arranged to pass between the bars of the other series, means for retating both series, and means for preventing relative axial turning movement of 'said bars as the series rotate.

8. A folding mechanism comprising a pair of drive shafts, a spaced pair of disks fixed to each drive shaft, shafts journaled in circular series in each pair of disks. about their respective drive shafts as centers, sheet folding elements fixed to each shaft of'both series, the elements of each series bein positioned toenter the spaces between'a jacent elements of the other series, and each element having a blade portion for engagement with one face of a piece of sheet material, a fixed gear arranged concentrically with each drive shaft, similar gears fixed to each of said series of shafts, gears carried by said disks and meshing with the corresponding drive shaft gear and a gear oneach of said series of shafts, whereby the blades of all of said elements are maintained in parallel relation during the rotation of said drive. shafts, and means for rotating said drive shafts;

9. Ina machine of theclass described, means for feeding a strip, means for outtin said strip into lengths, rotary means for de ecting one end of a length at the cut from mating relation with the adjacent end of the succeedinglength, and means for effecting different rates of feed of said successive lengths in a manner to cause said adjacent ends to overlap.

10. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a strip of material substantially horizontally, means for cutting said strip successively into lengths, rotary means for deflecting one of the adjacent end portions of said strip at the cut vertically,

and means for effecting a slower feed of the forward cut length than the feed of said strip whereby overlapping of the adjacent portions of the'material. on opposite sides 'of the cut is efi'ected.

11. A folding mechanism comprising a pair of drive shafts, a spaced pair of disks fixed to each drive shaft, shafts journaled in circular series in each pair of disks about their respective drive shafts as centers, each of said series of shafts comprising betweensaid disks a pair of spaced bars, a series of folding elements fixed between each pair of bars, the folding elements of one series being positioned to pass between the folding posite walls of a chute, a shaft, a pair of of said drive shafts extending laterally chute, one-on either side thereof, a spaced pair of disks fixed to each drive shaft, shafts journaled in circular series in each pair of disks about their respective drive shafts as.

centers, sheet-folding elements fixed to each shaft of both series, said elements being spaced to pass between-the bars of the chute and the elements of each series being positioned to pass between the elements of the other series within said chute, and means for preventing axial rotation of each of said series of shafts during its bodily movement about the axis of its respective drive shaft.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CHARLES W. SLEEPER. 

